The Center for Public Integrity released a story earlier today about how Northrop Grumman was able to use a traditional full court press of lobbying power and campaign contributions to help save its Global Hawk Block 30 drone program, which had been “plagued by recurrent operating flaws and maintenance troubles,” from being cut to save the government $2.5 billion.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) recently drew attention when he joined his state’s junior senator, Rand Paul (R-Ky.), in hour 11 of his 13-hour talking filibuster of John Brennan’s nomination to become director of the CIA, as Paul demanded an answer to whether the administration intended to use drones over American soil.